Toy vehicle



June 13, 1939.

H. MULLER TOY VEHICLE Filed March 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M M VMWU A A NWQ 4H June13,1939. HMULLER T 2,161,971

TOY VEHICLE Filed March 24. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [1: Yea [or Attorney Patented in... 13, 1939 PATENT OFFICE TOY VEHICLE Heinrich Miiller, Nuremberg, Germany Application March 24,

1938, Serial No. 197,760

In Germany December 6, 1937 20 Claims.

The present invention relates to toy vehicles and is particularly directed to an improvement in toy vehicles of the type in which the steering of the vehicle is effected tagthe operator from a 5 distance.

Toy vehicles provided with means for steering or controlling their movements from a distance have already been known for some time. In known devices of this kind the steering of the l toy has been effected by a flexible transmitting means consisting of a double shaft, whereby one of the shafts acts as a driving means while the other one serves as a controlling and steering means for the toy. I have found, however, that 5 an arrangement like that isnot satisfactory, particularly because the concentrically arranged shafts considerably interfere with the/ free and easy operation of the toy.

I, therefore, provide, the toy with electrical or mechanical propelling means and use a flexible shaft, or one provided with joints, solely for the steering of the vehicle. In this way I provide a toy that for its operation from a distance .requires only one single flexible shaft, which, since it has to perform only one function now, can be thinner and more flexible and just sufiiciently 'rigid to operate with ease and perfect satisfaction even the lightest and smallest toy vehicle. One principal advantage of my invention is'the fact that effectiveness of the steering means on reversals in the direction of the toy is considerably increased through use of either a smooth wire or a spiral with space between the individual coils. The wire as well as the spiral possess great torsion al rigidity, for which reason motion occurring at one end of the transmitting means is passed on without back-lash to the other end of the spiral or wire. I Another-advantage resulting from the use of a 40 spiral or wire is, of course, the increased flexibility and suppleness of the shaft, as well as the fact that the latter is lighter in weight and therefore cheaper in price if the length is the same.

If a wire spiral with space between the individual coils be used, it will be almost impossible the diameter of the wire used in the construction of the spiral.

The flexible shaft, when serving as a means for turning and operating the steering shaft connected to the steering wheel, or pair of steering I wheels, will be particularly eflicient in its capacity as a steering and controlling means for the movements of the vehicle, when between the flexible shaft and the steering shaft suitable means are interposed Which-are adapted to trans.- mit movement from the flexible shaft to the steering shaft of the steering wheels at a reduced ratio. It will be apparent that, when such means are provided, the swinging of the steering elements into either of their extreme positions will require a plurality of turns of the flexible shaft, and that, because of this fact, it will not "only be possible then to turn the steering wheels into their extreme positions but also into any intermediate positions within the range of an existing steering radius. The steering possibilities are thus vastly increased, and the toy can be steered in any desired direction and to any predetermined place. The vehicle may be made to run in a straight line direction and back again to its starting point, or turn on the spot and run through curves or in circles.

As already mentioned, the flexible shaft has to turn several times in order to swing the steering wheels into their extreme positions. That is why the torsional stress actually caused through transmission of the steering force is comparatively very small, so that thin and flexible wires (for example: a thin and flexible copper wire) can be used for the purpose. 35

The use of a wire like that has the additional advantage that it caneasily be straightened out by the child when it has lost its shape through bending or winding around an object.

With a thin and flexible wire used as a flexible shaft it is possible to steer even the smallest vehicles with perfect satisfaction and precision. Such wire, moreover, has the further advantage that it is practically invisible to .the eye, thus adding to the attraction of the game and making the performance appear like witchcraft.

The term flexible shaft as used in the present application does not limit theinvention 'to merely the use of a spiral or ordinary wire, or a shaft consisting of several portions joined together with the aid of coupling means, but comprises all flexible means, articles. or constructions (as' for instance: rubber cords) possessing a sumcient amount of torsional rigidity to transmit over a certain distance turning motion in either clock- 5;;

wine or counter-clockwise direction to the steeringelements of a toy its propelling force from a clock-work or electrical device mounted inside said toy.

Thefiexible shaft used as a means for transmitting steering motion to a toy vehicle may be fastened to the vehicle in various ways. It is preferable, however, to connect itto the toy in ma way that the fyee end of the shaft leaves the toy body at the top.

If the flexible shaft be fastened to the. toy'in 1 such manner that it leaves the top of the toy body in vertical or substantially vertical direction, the steering .of the toy will be considerably facilitated, since turning of .the shaft will then have a full and unobstructed effect on the-steering means of the vehicle.

If fastened to the toy in the aforementioned way the flexible shaft can also be used as a handle for.lifting the vehicle from the running surface without upsetting its horizontal or substantially horizontal position with respect to that running surface.

Another advantage of connecting the flexible shaft to the top of the toy is'the fact that the. vehicle is thereby enabled to run throughicircles and turn on the spot underneaththe arch-like curvature of the flexible shaft lying on the run-- ning surface with a portion of its length without coming in troublesome contact with the latter.

The present invention is a means for controlling and steering the movements of toy vehicles of any kind and construction, whereby it is unimportant whether vthe flexible shaft is used for steering merely onewheel or two wheels, as is necessary in cases where the toy has been given the shape of an automobile.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I will now proceed to describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. But it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope Z1; the claims hereunto appended can be resorted In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy-vehicle with certain parts-broken away to illustrate the working parts by means of which turning movement occurring at the flexible shaft is passed on to the steering shaft of the steering wheelat a reduced ratio;

Fig. 2 is abottomplanview-of the toy;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the under- 'sideofthevehi cle;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one form of constructlon of a mechanism for rotating the flexible shaft, provided with hand wheel and working parts for transmitting turning movement at an increased ratio;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of awire, serving as flexible shaft, provided with a handle for turning the wire;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a;

,vehicle showing the flexible shaft directly connected to the steering shaft of the steering-'w'heel; Fig. is-agetail view, showing how the flexible shaft may be connected to the steering shaft of the steering wheels ,Flggiiisaditicalview onareduced scale of a toy vehicle provided with a flexible steering shaft in the form of a spiral, which enables the vehicle to run through circles and curves underneath the arch-like curvature of the shaft;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view on a considerably enlarged scale of a spiral spring serving, as flex ible' shaft, showing that the distance between the individual coils is smaller than the diameter of the wire'of which the spiral is made;

. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a flexible shaft consisting of a plurality of portions joined together by means of elastic coupling sleeves;

Fig-11 is a plan view of the bottom plate. seen from above, of a vehicle, the front wheels of which are coupled to-steering arms which jointly and uniformly are moved toward the right or left by the steering movement of the flexible shaft;

Fig. 12 is a ditical view of the toy on a reduced scale, showing how the flexible shaft is fastened inside the vehicle;

Fig. l3.is an elevational .view of a simple mechanism for turning the flexible shaft. Parts of the hand' wheel have been broken awayto-show the toothing on the inner side of the wheel.

In thesedrawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and. for the purpose of this illustration, haveshown the invention as applied to a toy, the bc. 1y I of which is formed in automobile... Mounted in the rear imitation of an portion of" the automobile is a clock-work 2 adapted to be wound up by means of the stem 3. The clock-work 2 drives the axleof the propelling wheels 4. Arranged in front of the clockwork 2 is a bearing frame 5 in which'is journaled a vertical shaft-6. Fastened to the shaft 6 is a bearingframe I in which is rotatably journaled therefore, that the steering wheel '9 can be swung to the left or right by the shaft 6. The steering wheel .8, projecting downwardly through an opening in the bottom plate ll of the toy body I, rolls .the axle 8 of the steering wheel 9. It is obvious,

onthc rimning l2. The running and steering wheel 9 serves as front support for the connected a..direction indicator or pointer is.

This pointer l5 projects beyond the casing of the toy body and thus can be watched by the operator of the toy. It indicates the-position of .the running and steering wheel 9. Gear I, mounted (see Fig. 2) with a recess I in which engages a stop member ll,-limiting the rotation of gear I4 and shaft 6 of the steering wheel 9 in clockwise as well as counter-clockwise. direction. 7

Attached to bearing frame 5 is another bearing frame ll in which is journaled a shaft ll, carrying a gear 2| and a pinion 2|. Pinion 2| meshes with gear l l, while gear 20 meshes with a pinion 22. Pinion 22 is mounted on the steering shaft 23. The latter is iournaledin a frame 2i and is secured in that frame against axial displacement by means of'an adjustable collar 25. In the embodimentshown in the drawings'frame 24 has been mounted on the ,cloclr-worlr 2. The steering. shaft 23 projects upwardly through an open-,

.ing :0 nthe casing of the toy bodyi. Fastened to the steering shaft Ills the flexible shaft 21, as which in the embodiment illustrated in thedrawings a spiral has been used, Attached to the upper end of the spiral is a handle 28, which serves to impart turning movement on theshaft i, is provided in its forward portion to the spiral. I

In the illustration the width of the spiral has 1| been considerably enlarged, the diameter of the spiral being actually very much smaller.

-When the handle 28 is turned in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction the spiral 21 turns'in the samedirection and thus rotates the steering or controlling shaft 23, which viapinion 22, gear 20, pinion l3 and gear 14 causes a rotation of the vertical shaft 6 and thereby effects a turning to the right or left of the running and steering wheel 9.

Instead of using a simple handle as 28 it is also possible to arrange at the actuating end of the flexible shaft 21 a steering mechanism 23 as illustrated in Fig. 4. Rotatably journaled in the casing of this steering mechanism is a shaft30. It carries at its upper end a steering wheel 3| and at its lower end a gear 32. Gear 32 meshes with a pinion 33 which latter is mounted on a shaft 34. Mounted-on the same shaft is a crownwheel 35. This crown-wheel rotates a pinion 36 mounted on a shaft 31, which latter is journaled in the casing 29 and imparts rotary movement via the flexible coupling sleeve 38 to the flexible shaft 21.

It is also possible to devise the steering mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 13. This latter steering mechanism provides a bearing 49 consisting either'of a solid piece of metal or of a casing similar to the one shown in Fig. 4. In metal piece 49 is journaled a shaft 30- for a hand-wheel 3|. Shaft 30 is held in position by riveted joint 50. Hand wheel 3| is provided on its inner side with a toothing which meshes with a pinion 52; The pinion 52 is mounted on the driving shaft 31 which likewise is journaled in bearing 49. The driving shaft 31 is fastened to the flexible shaft 21 by means of the coupling sleeve 38. The result produced by this steering mechanism is the same as that produced by the steering mechanism 29 illustrated in Fig. 4.

A flexible coupling sleeve may also be used for connecting the flexible shaft 21 to the steering A connection In the form of construction shown in Fig. 12'

the thin metal wire 40 has been fastened to the steering and controlling shaft 23 by means of the .coupling sleeve 39 inside the body of the vehicle. If connected that way the wire is pract cally invisible and the performance of the vehicle looks like witchcraft to the spectator.

If a spiral 21 be employed as flexible shaft it is advisable to use a spiral in which the space or d stance a between the coils is smaller than the diameter d of the wire of which the coil is made. A spiral like that is shown in Fig. 9 on an enlarged scale. This prevents disturbing entanglements of the coils of the spiral 21.

3 Experience has shown that spirals the outer diameter of which is approximately four times that of the wire used in their construction are most suitable for the purpose in question.

The flexible shaft 21, 40 and its arrangement and use make it a suitable means for steering a toy and for controlling its movements. The steering efficiency of the flexible shaft is not lessened when the toy is running on a table on which the flexible shaft lies with a portion of its.

toy to pass underneath the arch-like curvature 42 beneath it.

The efficiency and adaptability of the flexible shaft is still further increased when it is fastened or connected to the steering and controlling shaft 23 or to the shaft 31 (Fig. 4) by means of an elastic coupling sleeve 39 (Figs. 7 and 8).

It is also possible to steer and control with the aid of the flexible shaft and the turning movement imparted by it toys which (as is illustrated in Fig. 11) have their front wheels l3 coupled to steering arms 43 connected with each other by means of a transverse member 44. The transverse member 44 is provided with a toothed portion 45 that meshes with a pinion l9, which is actuated by the flexible shaft via the steering and controlling shaft 23, the pinion 22 and the gear 20.

- The applicant has distributed the clock-work 2 and the movement transmitting means in the toy and fastened the flexible shaft 21, 40 to the vertically arranged steering and controlling shaft 23 in such a way that the toy body remains suspended in substantially horizontal position with respect to the running surface when the flexible shaft is usedas a handle for lifting the toy body from that running surface.

It is further possible to use instead of the flexible shaft 21, 40 a shaft consisting of several separate portions 46 coupled to one another by means of elastic or flexible coupling sleeves, such as the rubber sleeve 41 or the spiral spring 48 illustrated in Fig. 10.

It is further possible to fasten the flexible shaft 21, 40 or 46, 41, 48 directly to the vertical shaft 6 of the running and steering wheel 9 as shown in Fig. 6.

When coupling sleeves are used as a coupling means it will always be easy to detachthe flex- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wheeled toy having the form of an automobile, animal or the like, comprising a body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, and a single flexible member of accentuated length for transmitting steering movement to said steering wheels from the outside, said flexible member. having suflicient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members. I

2. A toy vehicle, comprising a toy body, propelling means" mounted therein, driving wheels length in the form of a flexible spiral for transout requiring anyconcentrical supporting members.

3. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said to-y body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels,

and a single flexible member of accentuatedlength in the form of a flexible wire for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels together by coupling members for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, said' flexible member having -sufllcient torsional rigidity to transmit'rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

5. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, a propelling mechanism mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling mechanism, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, and a single flexible member of accentuated length connected to the vehicle from above for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, said flexible member having suflicient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

a 6. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body,-propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in .driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, a vertically arranged steering'shaft for steering said steering wheels and in operating connection with the latter, and a single flexible member of accentuated length connected to said vertically arranged steering shaft for transmitting steerving movement to the steering wheels from the outside, said flexible member having sumcient V torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacementthroughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

7., A wheeled toy, comprising a toy'body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mountedon said toy-body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels; a vertically arranged steering shaft for steering said steering wheels and in operating connection with the latter, and a detachable single flexible member of accentuated length connected to said vertically arranged steering shaft for transmitting steering movement'to the steering wheels from the outside, said flexible member having suflicient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting lmanh bers.

a. A wheeled toy/compri a to body. propelling means mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, a running and steering wheel arranged in front of said driving wheels, a vertically arranged steering shaft directly connected to said steering wheel for turning and steering said steering wheel, and a single flexible member of accentuated length connected to said vertically arranged steering shaft for transmitting steering movement to said running and steering wheel from the outside, said flexible member having suflicient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational'displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any con- 5 centrical supporting members.

9. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving. wheels mounted on said toy bodyand in driving connection with said propelling means, a running and steering wheel arranged in front of said driving wheels, a steering shaft for-steering said steering wheel, gearing indrivingconnection with said steering shaft and adapted to transmit steering movement from the steering shaft at a reduced ratio, a vertical shaft mounted on said running and steering wheel and in driving connection with said gearing, and a single flexible member of accentuated length for transmitting steering movement from the outside through the steering shaft, ratio reducing gearing and vertical shaft to the running and steering wheel, said flexible member having suflicient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

10. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, and a single flexible member of accentuated length connected to the toy body about its gravitational center for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, said flexible a member having suiilicient torsional rigidity to steering means corresponds to the direction of w the turning movement of the steering wheels, said flexible member having sufllcient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without'require ingany concentrical supporting members. 12. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged infront of said driving wheels, and a single flexible member of accentuated length in the form of a, flexible spiral having its coils somewhat spaced apart for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, said flexible member having sufllcient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without re-. quiring any concentrical supporting members.

13-. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy-body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, and a single flexible member of accentuated length in the form of a flexible spiral for trans-; 16-

mitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, the individual coils of said spiral being so spaced apart that the distance between the wires of two adjacent coils is smaller than the diameter of the wire of which the spiraland a single flexible member of accentuated,

length in the form of a flexible spiral for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, the diameter of the coils of said spiral being approximately four times the diameter of the wire from which the spiral was wound, said flexible member having sufficient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

15. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said 'toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, a steering shaft connected to said steering wheels, a single flexible member of accentuated length for transmitting steering movement to the toy from the outside, and elastic means for coupling said member to said steering shaft of the steering wheels said flexible member having sufficient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

16. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said My body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels,

a single flexible member of accentuated length for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, and a handle connectd to the outer end of said member, said flexible member having suificient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

17. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in-front of said driving wheels, a single flexible member of accentuated length for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, and a wheel-shaped steering handle connected to the outer end of said member, said flexible memberhaving suflicient torsional rigidity to transmit rotational displacement throughout the length thereof without requiring any concentrical supporting members.

18. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body'and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, a single flexible member of great torsional rigidity and free fromconcentrical supporting elements for transmitting steeringmovement to the steering wheels from the outside, and a steering mechanism attached to the outer end of said flexible member, said steering mechanism including asteering wheel, and gearing adapted to transmit steering movement from the steering wheel to-said flexible member at an increased ratio.

19. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on 'said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, a single flexible member of great torsional rigid,- ity and free from concentrical supporting elements for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, and a steering mechanism attached to the outer end of said flexible member, said steering mechanism including a steering wheel and gearing adapted to transmit movement from the steering wheel to said flexible member at an increased ratio, whereby the direction of rotation, of said steering wheel corresponds to the direction of rotation of said movement transmitting means.

20. A wheeled toy, comprising a toy body, propelling means mounted therein, driving wheels mounted on said toy body and in driving connection with said propelling means, steering wheels arranged in front of said driving wheels, a single flexible member of great torsional rigidity and freefrom concentrical supporting elements for transmitting steering movement to the steering wheels from the outside, and a steering mechanism connected to the outer end of said flexible member, said steering mechanism including a steering wheel provided with an inner toothing, a pinion mounted on a shaft and meshing with said inner toothing, and coupling means mounted on said shaft for coupling said shaft to the outer end of said flexible member.

HEINRICH MULLER. 

